The Supreme Chamber of the American parliament has voted for introducing sanctions to be applied towards Syria. Only 4 senators were against this initiative. The few people against sanctions were thinking that those measures could lead to military operation. For the moment Washington carries out an economic and diplomatic war. The decision of the Congress supposes an embargo for the American export and investments in Syria, reduction of American diplomatic representation in the country and limited possibilities for movement of Syrian diplomats on the territory of the United States. Besides, the legislators sanctioned the freezing of the accounts of Syria in the USA and gave the Administration the right to prohibit the flights of Syrian aviation in the American air space.
The Americans assure that Damascus should be punished as the policy conducted by him presents a threat to the international stability and security. In Washington they are sure that Syria supports the international terrorism. The official Damascus denies everything. The Arabian leaders believe that the accusations of the USA addressed to Syria are based on such non-convincing arguments that were used in case with Iran. Despite the declarations of Washington, the MAGATE experts did not find nuclear weapons in Iran.
But in any case, it is evident that the White House is going to deny the methods of force pressure on Syria. It is being supported by Congress where the Jewish lobby has provided an atmosphere that was favorable for strengthening of the anti-Syria policy. George Bush has taken into account the experience of his father and decided not to confront with the Jews. Syria is the only Arabian country that has a right of vote in the UN Security Council. Few people doubt that there would be problem of sanctions towards Syria if that country did not have a direct access to the highest tribune. It is known that the Syrian army today is one of the strongest in the Near Eastern region. Taking into account this fact, the possible scales of the armed conflict between Washington and Damascus can be imagined. There are lot of Armenians in the Syrian army. The Armenian community that is the third ethnic group in Syria, has s serious influence and has always played a stabilizing role. Our compatriots living mainly in Damascus and Aleppo are in fact a bridge between Syria and United States where there are 10 thousand Armenians. Armenians are interested maybe most of all to have the confrontation resolved without war. However, Yerevan has to be ready to such a turn of events. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country, before the military operation in Iraq, had elaborated a program of measures to be undertaken in case of a necessity to provide an extraordinary assistance to the Near Eastern compatriots. We hope that there will be no necessity to return to that program.
